This content was created by Your Advisor. This content was uploaded by Your Advisor. This is a YouTube video titled "LGBT Inclusion and Outreach Initiative" created on August 5, 2015. It features a discussion among multiple speakers about the importance of inclusivity in federal agencies, particularly focusing on the LGBT community. The conversation highlights the collaboration with the NGLCC to create a business builder program, the benefits of LGBT certification for businesses, and the broader impact on communities and the marketplace.
Chapters
The President has sent a message to all federal agencies that we needed to look more inclusively. We needed to look at the importance of the gay and lesbian, bi, transgender community, because it is made up of all these underserved communities that SBA, historically, for over 50 years, has been the mission to underserved and serve.
Working over a number of months with the nglcc, we came up with the idea for the business builder that would marry the LGBT certification that they offer with our programs and services to help businesses take better advantage of the certification, to use it as a strategy for growth.
You know, this is really about helping suppliers team up. It's about helping suppliers grow from maybe that one million dollar business to a $10 million business and doing it in a way that allows them to expand their client base, expand their customer base, but do it in a way that is an authentic representation of who they are.
Being certified has opened up so many doors. We used to have small companies here and there and companies like Merck and Bristol Myers, Squibb and Edison of Southern California coming to me and saying, we need some products for an upcoming event. We find a place for businesses of.
All sizes and all capacities teaming together.
Being vendors for each other.
That's really where the magic of a supply chain is.
Today's marketplace is entirely different than when I was growing up. You know, one local florist shop competed against the florist shop across the street. But today, it's about how we compete against the entire globe. And so in that regard, we have to be bolder at market making and helping small businesses navigate.
It's amazing how we're not only transforming the way we deliver our services in the field to be more inclusive, we are also changing the culture of SBA within and making our offices more welcoming to everyone.
These are fabulous MA and MA and PA and PAW shops that are really transforming not only their businesses, but their employees and the communities that they serve.
Last year, we attributed about 50% of our business to being a certified LGBT BE. And I think it's extremely important for all businesses to get certified. And by taking advantage of these opportunities and coming out and getting certified and growing our numbers, we get more opportunities like this on a regular basis.
The certification process is really not very hard. It's comprehensive, but it's not difficult.
This is a great opportunity to build.
Some legacy for us because we do have children, we do have family.
We are wanting to become not just.
Known in this generation, but for generations to come. And that's why our partnership that is so special and we think one of the first with the NGLCC we think is going to go a long way in setting an example.
You know, I think it's important that we share this message of these opportunities with everyone we know. Every LGBT owned business should be leveraging these opportunities. It's not about taking advantage, it's really about leveraging opportunities. As red blooded, tax paying American citizens, we should be taking advantage of every opportunity that we have and make sure that our businesses are thriving.
